How to prepare for a conversation?
Success at an interview consists of going through two processes - the conversation itself with the employer and careful preparation for it.
The preparation includes several points:
- Preparation of an oral resume .
Your task is to describe your achievements in the profession, demonstrating competence in the specialty. At the interview, take evidence-based documents confirming real growth and victories in the craft: diplomas, advanced training diplomas, portfolios (for creative professions, for example: designer, artist, programmer). Typically, such data is entered into a questionnaire on a job search website. Your task is to justify them verbally, talk about projects and real practical experience. - Making a list of possible questions. HR officers often have a list of general questions prepared for the applicant. They may ask about your previous place of work and why you left it; they may ask you to tell about your key positive and negative qualities, and about your desired career prospects. Write down a series of questions for yourself and rehearse the answers to them. It is especially important to prepare for tricky questions and justify your actions. Tricky ones are those that can negatively characterize you. For example, you quit with a scandal because your former boss violated communication etiquette or simply interfered with normal work. It is not your fault, but for the new company it is necessary to give a short, meaningful answer on the current situation.
- Rehearse your answers to all questions carefully. People always pay attention to the emotions and behavior of the interlocutor in a personal conversation. And for a personnel officer, this is a professional skill.
Therefore, a calm, polite tone, confident, competent speech, and eye contact play no less a role than skills and experience in the craft.There are several ways to rehearse:
- ask a loved one to play the role of an employer and go through the dialogue with him, while asking him to pay attention to weak points in speech, voice, gestures;
- stand (better sit) in front of a mirror - this way you can see your emotions live, your facial expression, posture and correct them;
- Place a camera in front of you and record a video of the interview sample.
Each method is strong in its own way, and therefore it is better to practice all three.
How to get a job by talking about your shortcomings in an interview
Imagine that you are at an interview, and, according to your feelings, it is going well: the conversation is going well, mutual understanding with the interviewer has been established, you already have a clear picture of the job offer in front of you, and then you hear the following question: “Tell me about your shortcoming.”
This is one of the most difficult questions that almost all candidates face, becoming the icing on the cake by which the employer is trying to understand whether they should hire you. This is the “test” that results in most candidates being eliminated from the competition for the role. This is understandable: the topic is not the most pleasant, and it’s easy to start getting nervous, get lost in thoughts and end up blurting out something stupid. The main secret to successfully answering this question is to understand why this question is asked and how to correctly construct an answer to it.
Let's first try to understand why such a question is even asked.
Reason No. 1: the company wants to hire a conscientious person who analyzes his past and mistakes and knows himself well enough. All these are signs of a mature professional who adequately assesses himself and his abilities. Such a person understands his weaknesses and either works to strengthen them or tries to circumvent them, relying on his strengths.
Reason #2: The company wants to make sure that you are not only aware of your shortcomings, but also willing to work on them.
Reason #3: They want to understand whether you are a serious risk for the company in the future. This is a “fool test” to exclude any fatal problems that could interfere with employment (alcoholism, theft, etc.).
Reason #4: If a candidate is perfect in everything, it raises questions and makes him look better than those who are interviewing him. This, as a rule, does not inspire sympathy. There is a suspicion of falsehood and hypocrisy, or that the candidate has too high an opinion of himself.
Therefore, paradoxically, the opportunity to talk about your shortcomings is a great opportunity for you to show that you, too, are a living, conscious person, and are working on yourself, and therefore will be a good part of the team. This is your chance to strengthen the employer's opinion of you, and not vice versa.
The following 7 tips will help you properly prepare to answer this question, as a result, feel more confident during the interview and increase your chances of a positive outcome of the conversation.
Tip #1: Talk about a real flaw. Often people choose some kind of frivolous disadvantage, sometimes even one that, in the process of answering the question, can be presented as an advantage. The most common examples: perfectionism, workaholism. An answer in this vein sounds quite false. And although we understand that perfectionism is indeed a problem, a person who declares his perfectionism in an interview looks like he is bragging, and it comes out like that joke: “Are you complaining or bragging?” This reduces the employer's confidence and therefore your chances of getting hired.
When choosing a weakness, it is advisable to focus on your skills, rather than immutable character traits that you are unlikely to be able to change and which in most cases cannot be interpreted clearly positively or negatively. You should also avoid characteristics that are almost guaranteed to be required in almost any role in modern corporations: the ability to work in a team, meet deadlines, and deliver on promises.
Tip #2: Choose a weakness that is not directly related to the role you are interviewing for. If you are competing for the position of event manager, then you should not mention that you are an introvert and have difficulty finding contact with people (in this case, you should think about whether you are in the right profession for yourself), and if you are applying for a job as an analyst, then you shouldn’t complain about your lack of Excel skills or difficulties understanding numbers and data.
Tip No. 3: talk about what is relevant now, and not a story from university times and a thing of the past. If the flaw has already been worked out, then such an answer is essentially an attempt to avoid the answer. If you are a mature specialist and have not yet figured out your shortcoming since university, this raises suspicions about your awareness and willingness to work on yourself.
Tip No. 4: when formulating a deficiency, provide the context in which it manifests itself. For example, if you say during an interview: “I’m not very friendly,” your interlocutor will decide that this is your constant characteristic in life. But if you introduce the context in which this happens, it becomes clear that this is not a kind of “diagnosis”, but a contextual feature of you, a quality that manifests itself only in certain circumstances. The context might be, for example, “When I am working under tight deadlines on multiple projects at once and doubt my ability to complete the work on time, I become nervous and unfriendly to others.” This makes your deficiency seem somewhat smaller by limiting the circumstances in which it appears.
Tip No. 5: explain why the deficiency manifests itself and why the situation occurs.
In the example of unfriendliness during stress, the underlying message is clear: a person is motivated by work motivation. He is focused on the task and does not have the resources to juggle both politeness, his ethical side, and logic, purposefulness, which currently dictates a focus on the good of the company. Such explanations help the employer better understand your motivation and mitigate the shortcoming itself, showing that there is logic and the best intentions behind your actions.
Tip No. 6: explain exactly how this deficiency interferes with your work. Your example must be relevant to your interlocutor, and therefore it is not enough just the fact that you consider some of your qualities to be a shortcoming. It is necessary to explain exactly how it affects professionally. An example of such an explanation might be: “I understand how my behavior can affect the work of the entire team. People sometimes get offended by me, think that they did something wrong or offended me, and that’s why I’m harsh with them.” Such an explanation will show the employer that you understand the consequences of your actions and treat them responsibly.
Tip #7: Tell us how you are working on your shortcoming. At this stage, a psychological trap awaits the candidate. The topic is quite sensitive, and it may be tempting to assure the employer that the problem has been overcome and you have already gotten rid of the unfortunate shortcoming. But in this way you will not answer the question posed - if there is no longer a shortage, then why talk about it, the company is interested in you at the moment, and not in the past?
By being honest that you are aware of your shortcomings, but are working on them, you will show the other person your desire to be the best version of yourself. And an example of specific actions that you take will help him assess your analytical skills and predict what you will do if in the future your boss gives you feedback and asks you to work on some of your qualities. For example, are you the one who avoids sharp corners and tries not to get into situations that provoke the manifestation of a deficiency, or the one who deals with the problem head-on and strives to develop the desired quality in yourself at any cost?
An example of a possible answer to the question: “When a difficult deadline comes, I lock myself in my office and try not to come into contact with people around me, because I understand that I will not have the resources to be open and friendly as my colleagues expect” or “I’m learning to plan projects better so I don’t end up in situations like this.”
The more honest and professional your example is, the better impression you will make on the employer. How can you stop being afraid of such questions at interviews?
Think about the fact that this is your opportunity to talk about how you are working on yourself, to show yourself as a conscious person who knows how to use feedback for your benefit. If the company draws negative conclusions about you based on the fact that you honestly spoke about your shortcomings, then there are two possible options. This either indicates that this shortcoming is really very serious, that it will interfere with your work in this company in the future - and then thank God that you talked about it from the very beginning and realized at an early stage that you are not suitable for each other! The second option: this employer has inadequate expectations from candidates regarding their “sinlessness”, does not strive to get to know and understand you, but wants to find an “ideal” candidate, which, as we all know, does not exist! In this case, if your answer serves as a reason not to hire you, this will be a positive outcome of the communication in the first place for you and, possibly, will prevent future difficulties that you might have encountered anyway in this company.
Rules of communication
How to speak and communicate correctly during an interview?
We will talk about tactfulness, politeness, etiquette.
There is a known case where a programmer passed the most difficult stages of testing , showed excellent intelligence and extensive experience in solving production problems.
But after a dialogue with HR, he was refused.
Why? The fact is that during the conversation he relaxed on the sofa , which embarrassed the company representative. The man was let down by excessive self-confidence.
Your task is to find a middle ground in communication with the employer. Don’t be arrogant and assertive, but also don’t cower into a corner with every question.
A number of tips to help establish a constructive dialogue:
- Smile . The advice is as simple as it is effective. But this shouldn't be too much either. A smile is good in the right place, in the right situation. Several of them may arise in a conversation, at different times. But two moments - greeting and leaving (regardless of whether you were accepted or not) - are suitable for a welcoming, friendly smile.
- Don't interrupt. Listen to the employer's question to the end, then wait a short pause (1-2 seconds). The person will understand that you listened to him and, having compared the facts, thought about how best to start answering.
- Gesticulation and naturalness .
Sometimes they recommend “poses of confidence” and “gestures of confidence.” But if you are a phlegmatic person by nature, a calm person, and do not gesticulate in everyday communication, you should not do this at an interview. To the person opposite, your behavior will seem fake, and this is a bad result. Gesture, intonation, emphasis on words in a sentence - all this should be organic. So don't think about such things when talking. When you immerse yourself in the story, the body will do everything itself. The only point is to try to keep unobtrusive eye contact and keep your head and back straight.
What should we talk about?
One of the most common mistakes in interviews is talking about yourself, but not asking about the company's affairs . This will show you on the bad side.
The employer will think that you don’t care at all which company you go to. This will entail either a refusal, or worse working conditions - lower wages, etc. What specifically to talk about at the interview:
- About you . This is a “mandatory program,” as skaters say. You answer the HR officer’s questions and introduce yourself. Standard for any interview.
- About company . First of all, at the preparation stage, at home, find information about the company - website, groups on social networks, employee reviews. Ask about the specifics of the company’s activities, its position in the market, successes, and the competence of its employees.
- Why did you choose this company ?
Even if you have prepared for several meetings, focus on the specific company you are visiting. Based on the information obtained, express your positive opinion. Moreover, in terms of profession and achievements. The options “close to home”, “high salary”, “my friend works here” are not suitable, moreover, they are harmful. And, say, “for winning the competition of the best”, “for a leading position in the market” - they are more pleasant to the interlocutor and objective.
Interview questions for candidates: Your shortcomings
Hello again, dear friend!
Another type of questions included in the TOP 10 most common are interview questions for a candidate about his shortcomings. Today’s article is about how best to respond.
No one is waiting for the perfect candidate
Long gone are the days when people listened with emotion to the pathetic speeches of supermen with a square chin.
You don't have to be perfect. Nobody expects this from you. Just as they don’t expect the confession of an inveterate lazy person.
The recruiter or manager wants to know whether you are a mature person with adequate self-esteem and the ability to work on or compensate for your shortcomings.
Why do we need shortcomings?
1. The employer needs them
Everything is quite trivial. Weaknesses are meant to be pointed out from time to time. It seems like a joke, but in practice it is true.
2. You need them
You have shortcomings. It's part of your personality. They are as unique as you and your strengths. Moreover, by presenting them correctly, you inspire trust.
The author of these lines, when asked about the shortcomings, heard a lot of answers that would be enough for more than one article. For the sake of compactness, I have classified them into three groups. Same as in the previous article.
Unimportant answer
What not to talk about:
- About the shortcomings and weaknesses that are critical for work. An accountant who confuses assets with liabilities is unlikely to make an impression, given all his other outstanding qualities.
- About qualities that are not relevant to the position and can create unnecessary problems at work. For example, the same accountant’s statement: “I’m too ambitious,” may be perceived without enthusiasm by the immediate manager or recruiter.
- No need to get too personal. No one expects you to make a ten-minute confession about tobacco or computer addiction.
wary of answers that reek of homemade food a mile away.
Auditor: “They say that I am too meticulous, I check everything down to the smallest detail.” PR manager: “Perhaps I’m too sociable.”
In this case, an attempt to present one’s “shortcomings” as advantages and indirectly hint at advantages looks too frank and prepared in advance.
Acceptable answer
“I know the problem and I’m working on it...”
You know your shortcomings and are working to correct them. Example:
“Unfortunately, it happens that we are late for meetings. I'm trying to fight this habit. Now I come to work 10 minutes earlier. I do the same when I have an appointment. If at 11.00, then for me it is 10.50. That’s what I write on the calendar.”
“I sometimes make mistakes in reports. I know this problem and try to meticulously check everything down to the smallest detail.”
You are showing that you are aware of the problem. And most importantly, you work on solving it.
“I haven’t fully mastered it yet...”
Another answer is to admit a lack of knowledge and experience in secondary functions or areas.
“I know that sometimes it makes sense to outsource. Unfortunately, there has not yet been a suitable opportunity to try this method in practice. “In the near future I plan to study this format of work in detail.”
You demonstrate integrity and a willingness to improve.
Adequate answer
Everyone has shortcomings and that's normal. The problem is if you don’t compensate them in any way.
You can fight them for as long as you like, but it may turn out like in that saying: “Such a struggle for peace has begun that no stone is left unturned.” Action gives rise to reaction. While you are struggling with yourself, your shortcomings continue to create problems for you and those around you.
It is often much easier and more reliable to simply compensate for your shortcomings than to start a bloody fight against them .
For example, I don't have very good RAM. I can easily forget something important.
I can struggle with my memory for as long as I like, a year or three.
However, why not install special reminder programs on your smartphone? They compensate for my forgetfulness. It's even useful. I write down everything that is necessary, throw the rest out of my head, and free it up for more important things.
The same example with a report. “I sometimes make mistakes in reports.” We talked about this a little higher.
Now there is another way out:
“I show the report to my employee, he looks at it with an open mind and finds inaccuracies that I do not notice.”
Sometimes shortcomings can even be played out in a positive way with an adequate amount of humor . The same forgetfulness, for example.
“I forget confidential information that I receive in conversations from people. But since I forget the lion’s share, it means I won’t be able to leak it to anyone.
